<
>

Robin van Persie deal done, according to Fenerbahce chairman

Fenerbahce's chairman has said Robin van Persie has joined his club from Manchester United.

Van Persie, who is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Sunday, is set to be unveiled on Monday as his three-year Old Trafford career comes to an end.

The striker will join his former United teammate Nani, who signed for the Turkish Super Lig runners-up last week, at Fenerbahce.

Neither club has yet officially confirmed the deal but Fener chairman Aziz Yildirim has said the transfer has been finalised.

He told Hurriyet, according to Goal: "The Van Persie transfer is done and one more star has joined the Fenerbahce constellation.

"We worked very hard, until midnight. We received five faxes, sent six faxes and finally it was finished."

Van Persie, who cost United £24 million when he joined from Arsenal in 2012, had entered the last 12 months of his deal with United and is likely to sign a four-year deal in Turkey.

The 31-year-old, who scored 132 goals for Arsenal, has added 58 in 105 appearances for United with 30 of them coming in his debut campaign, when he became the first player to win the Premier League's Golden Boot in successive seasons and with different clubs.

The 2011-12 PFA Player of the Year and Footballer of the Year captained Louis van Gaal's Holland team to third place in the 2014 World Cup but lost his place under his countryman at Old Trafford next season.

Van Persie's imminent exit leaves United short of strikers and Van Gaal needing to bolster his forward line ahead of the season to provide further backup to Wayne Rooney.

United also have James Wilson, but the 19-year-old has only started three Premier League games, and although Javier Hernandez, who is currently sidelined by a broken collarbone, has returned from a loan spell with Real Madrid, he could be sold this summer.

Van Gaal said on Friday that he believes winger Memphis Depay, who has joined for £25 million from PSV Eindhoven, could operate as a striker.